Maryland Live Casino general manager Rob Norton makes a presentation of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission. (Photo by WBAL's Robert Lang)

Members of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission have unanimously approved a regulation allowing casinos in Maryland to operate 24 hours a day, as well as table games.

Today's vote by the commission follows approval by voters last month of an expanded gambling ballot question which included allowing table games, 24 hour casino operation, and a sixth casino in Prince George's County.

Not all casinos will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

As a result of the vote, Maryland Live Casino general manager Rob Norton says the casino will go ahead with plans to begin 24 hour operations starting on December 27.

"We're ready to roll on the 27th and then not closing going forward," Norton told WBAL News.

Officials from Hollywood Casino in Perryville say they will begin 24 hour operations on weekends only starting December 28.

General manager Bill Hayles told the commission that there is not enough business at the casino to operate 24-hours a day on weekdays.

Hayles says that may change once the casino begins offering table games.

At Ocean Downs, general manager Joe Cavilla told the commission that the casino near Ocean City will stay open until 3 a.m. during the week, and will operate 24 hours a day on weekends. Cavilla says Ocean Downs plans to ask the commission to open 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week, during the summer months.

Until now, Maryland casinos could only stay open until 2 a.m. weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends.

Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino told the commission that he expects Maryland Live and Hollywood Casino to begin their table game operations this spring, and Ocean Downs to begin its table game operations later in the year. All three casinos are opening dealer schools next month to train potential employees.

Norton told WBAL News that 8,000 people applied for the Maryland Live dealer school, and 1,200 have been accepted for training for jobs as blackjack and poker dealers, as well as operators of roulette and craps tables.

The classes at the dealer school will begin January 7, with the classes being offered at Anne Arundel Community College.